Some anthoathecate hydroids and limnopolyps (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from the Hawaiian archipelago

Abstract

A systematic account is given of 17 families, 25 genera, and 32 species of anthoathecate hydroids and limnopolyps reported from Hawaii. Applying Reversal of Precedence provisions in zoological nomenclature, the familiar hydrozoan genus names Hydractinia Van Beneden, 1844a, Bimeria Wright, 1859a, and Porpita Lamarck, 1801 are designated as valid and as nomena protecta, while seldom-used older names threatening them (the synonyms Echinochorium Hassall, 1841 and Manicella Allman, 1859a, and the homonym Porpita Soldani, 1789 respectively) are relegated to nomena oblita. Also designated a nomen oblitum is the name Pyxidium Leuckart, 1856, threatening its junior but widely used synonym Ectopleura L. Agassiz, 1862. The species name Bimeria vestita Wright, 1859a is rendered valid and a nomen protectum, while its virtually unused senior synonym Manicella fusca Allman, 1859 becomes a nomen oblitum. Hydrodendrium Nutting, 1905 is reinstated as a valid genus, distinct from Hydractinia and replacing its junior objective synonym Nuttingia Stechow, 1909. The spelling of Hydrodendridae Nutting, 1905 is emended to Hydrodendriidae, but that family name is retained as a synonym of Hydractiniidae. Usage of the familiar generic name Sphaerocoryne Pictet, 1893 is upheld by recognizing it and its former senior subjective synonym Corynetes Haeckel, 1879 as valid. The correct spelling of the family name originally founded as Olindiadae Haeckel, 1879 is taken to be Olindiidae, and spelling of the species name Solanderia misakinensis (Inaba, 1892), first established as Dendrocryne (sic) misakii, is stabilized. One new species, Stylactaria munita, is described from shallow waters at Hawaii Kai, Oahu. Lectotypes are designated for Corydendrium corrugatum Nutting, 1905 and Corydendrium minor Nutting, 1905 (=Turritopsis minor), both originally described from Hawaii. Type material of Balea mirabilis Nutting, 1905 (=Balella mirabilis), originally described from waters between the islands of Molokai and Maui, could not be located. Six anthoathecate species [Corydendrium parasiticum (Linnaeus, 1767), Bimeria vestita, Amphinema sp., Eudendrium carneum Clarke, 1882, Ectopleura viridis (Pictet, 1893), and Sphaerocoryne bedoti Pictet, 1893] are recorded from Hawaii for the first time.

Similiclava nivea(Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Similiclavidae): a new family, genus and species of athecate hydroid from the Pacific coast of North America

“…The morphology of Similiclava conforms in many respects with diagnoses of the hydrozoan family Hydractiniidae L. Agassiz, 1862(Bouillon et al 2006Schuchert Journal of Natural History 3 2008;Calder 2010), and the hydroid examined here was initially thought to be a hydractiniid. Colonies are stolonal, with hydranths arising from a creeping hydrorhiza that is enveloped in perisarc.…”

“…Unlike in Clava, the tentacles are arranged in two close whorls (these appearing to comprise a single whorl in contracted hydranths) rather than being scattered over the distal end of the hydranth, and the hypostome is dome-shaped rather than being proboscidiform. It differs most immediately from the widely overlooked Hydrodendrium Nutting, 1905, another monomorphic hydractiniid genus (Calder 2010), in lacking a massive, spongy, arborescent hydrocaulus. Colonies of Similiclava differ from those of the more widely known hydractiniid genera Hydractinia Van Beneden, 1844, Podocoryna M. Sars, 1846, Clavactinia Thornely, 1904, Hydrissa Stechow, 1921a, Stylactaria Stechow, 1921a, Hydrocorella Stechow, 1921b, Janaria Stechow, 1921b, Bouillonactinia Miglietta et al 2010, and Schuchertinia Miglietta et al 2010 in being monomorphic rather than polymorphic, in lacking hydrorhizal spines and in having numerous small gonophores (as sporosacs) that are borne on normal hydranths.…”

First Record of Porpita porpita (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from the coral reef ecosystem, Bangladesh

“…Because of the prominent environmental heterogeneity between marine and estuarine ecosystems, it is therefore unlikely that P. porpita can be found in areas other than the St. Martin's island. However, the species is distributed in various parts of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans, and the Mediterranean Sea (Zhang 1999;Bouillon et al 2004;Fisner et al 2008;Calder 2010). According to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), there are 64 geo-referenced occurrence data for Porpita, globally (Fig.…”

“…The group includes not only the well-known 'by-the-wind-sailor' Velella velella but also Porpita porpita, which is commonly known as the 'blue button'. P. porpita is a colony of hydroids belonging to the family Porpitidae (Calder 2010;Gul and Gravili 2014) and primarily inhabits the ocean surface, although habitats of larvae and medusae may extend to a depth of about 200 m. Being a dweller of the uppermost layer of the marine environment, the species is easily carried to shore primarily by water currents and wind (Pandya et al 2013). It maintains flotation by means of a disc-like chitinous float, the pneumatophore, derived from the perisarc surrounded by soft living tissue.…”

“…Although P. porpita is native to tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans (Zhang 1999;Kirkendale and Calder 2003;Bouillon et al 2004;Kubota and Tanase 2007;Fisner et al 2008;Gravili et al 2008;Calder 2010;Pandya et al 2013;Gul and Gravili 2014), its occurrence has not been reported from Bangladesh. However, there are 21 cnidarian species belonging to 20 genera and 19 families, including 5 hydrozoan species such as Plumularia insignis, Aequorea pensilis, Thyroscyphus fruticosus, Hydra vulgaris and Physalia physalis present in marine and freshwater environments (reviewed by Das 2007).…”